Lubricating system for sewing machines



LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR SEWING MACHINES l I Filed April l0, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 'l LQ, '9 @M5 u 56 ilIl Q M |f 91ml I L 9 N (fbg 23 l* glu/vento@ Aug. 14, 1934.

H.HACKLANDER LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed April lO, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug 14, 1934- A H. HACKLANDER 1,969,927

LUBRICATIG SYSTEM FOR SEWING MACHNES Filed April lO, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 uw &

Aug. 14, 1934. H. HACKLANDER LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed April l0, 1931 4 Sheets-Shea?J 4 of. @M .au

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Patented Aug. l4, 1934 UNiTED STATES orifice;

Limenica'rruo srs'rislu iron servirte Machines Hans Hacklander, Tinley Park, lill., assignor to Union Special Machine Company,

Chicago,

4 Claims.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in a lubricating system for sewing machines.

An object of the invention is to provide a lubricating system of-a unit character which may be used for supplying oil to all of the bearings and moving parts in the upper portion of the frame of the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide l@ means for draining the surplus oil from the bearings and moving parts into a sump at the bottom portion of the frame, whereby it may be pumped back into the supply reservoir at will to maintain a circulation of the oil.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a lubricating system wherein` the oil thrown by the moving parts against the vertical walls of the frame member is collected and directed by suitable sp'outs to points where the 2@ moving parts at the lower portion of the machine are well lubricated.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

In the drawings which show by way of illustration one embodiment of the invention- Figure 1 is a View partly in side elevation and partly in section showing a sewing machine embodying the improvements;

Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe machine with the cover plates removed and parts sectioned to show the manner of lubricating the bearings for the main actuating shaft and the parts directly associated therewith;

Fig. 3 is a View in top plan showing the work arm detached, and the manner of lubricating the parts within the work arm;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View showing the main supply reservoir for the oil, the pipes leading aotherefrom, and the pump for returning the oil from the sump to the supply reservoir;

Fig. 5 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of the pump and the supply reservoir;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional View through the overhanging arm at the bearing adjacent the needle head.

The lubricating system embodying the invention is shown as applied to a sewing machine 50 which includes an upper horizontal member containing the main actuating shaft. This upper horizontal member is carried by a supporting base having a bracket to which said horizontal member is attached. At one end of said horizontal 55 member is a depending portion carrying the work (Cl. i12-256) arm in which is located the feeding mechanism and the looper mechanism. At the other end of said horizontal member is a needle head which projects forwardly and overhangs the free end of the work arm. The machine to which the invention has been particularly applied is shown and described in detail inthe application Serial No. 529,241, led April 10, 1931 by F. F. Zeier, and it is not thought that it will be necessary to describe in detail all of the operating parts of this machine.

In carrying out the invention, the supply reservoir which is in the form of a large pipe extends substantially from one end of the upper horizontal member to the other end thereof, and leading out from this supply reservoir are pipes which direct the oil to the various bearings for the main shaft, and also to the parts which are directly associated therewith. The work arm is detachably connected to the depending member, and between the parts is a metal gasket which is provided with inwardly projecting portions. This gasket 'is shaped so as to provide a channel for collecting the oil accumulating on the inner wall of the depending member and running down the so same. Spouts are formed in the gasket for directing the oil to the operating parts within the work arm. Thus it is that all of the moving parts in the upper horizontal member, in the depending portion carrying the work arm, and in the work arm, are freely lubricated. The surplus oil running from the bearings, or thrown by the moving parts, collects in a sump at the bottom portion at the inner end of the work arm. A pump is provided which may be manually operated, or otherwise, for returning the oil from the sump to the supply reservoir.

It is thought that the invention will be better l understood by a more detailed'reference to the illustrated embodiment thereof. The machine includes a supporting base bracket 1 on which is mounted an upper horizontal member 2. This upper horizontal member 2 carries a depending member 3 to which the work arm 4 is removably connected bymeans of bolts 5, 5, one of which is indicated in Fig. '1. The upper horizontal member 2 is provided with a forwardly projecting portion 6 carrying a needle head 7 at the outer end thereof. This needle head is directly over the free end of the work arm. In the upper hori- Zonal member are a series of bearings for the main actuating shaft which is indicated at 8. The bearing 9 at the left-hand end of the shaft is provided with a suitable bushing 10 in which the shaft is journaled. It is also provided with a chamber 11 in which is placed a fibrous packing. There is a slot 12 through the bushing which allows oil fed into the chamber 11 to pass down through the bushing for lubricating the contacting parts between the bushing and the shaft. The bearing 9 is provided with a recess 13. The shaft is provided with a projecting flange 14. The circumferential wall of the recess inclines away from the shaft toward the inner side of the recess. There is a port 15 leading from this recess to the inner side of the bearing 9. Thus it is that oil supplied to the chamber 11 will lubricate the shaft, and any oil running out of the bushing along the shaft Will be trapped by the flange 14 and thus retained in the recess 13 and caused to flow through the port 15 back into the upper horizontal member which is hollow, eX- cept for the bearings formed therein.

The main actuating shaft is provided with a crank 16. There is a port 17 leading through the shaft and supplied with oil from the chamber 11 which lubricates the ball crank and the link cooperating therewith. There is a port 18 leading through the link to a ball stud 19 carried by the needle actuating lever 20. The centrifugal force causes the oil to ow outward through this port 18 and lubricate the ball stud.

The chamber 11 is supplied with oil from a reservoir 21 which is in the form of a pipe eX- tending substantially from one end of the arm to the other end thereof. The reservoir 2l is provided with a pipe 22 which is connected to the reservoir at a point above the bottom thereof. This pipe 22 will discharge oil into a cup 23 which is connected by a port 24 to the chamber 11. The pipe 22 is provided with a wicking which projects from the outer end thereof and preferably makes contact with a wicking or brous material in the cup. The wick in the pipe 22 extends into the reservoir 21 so that oil may be forcibly fed through the pipe for flushing the bearings when the reservoir is lled to a point above the level of the pipes, and will be continuously supplied to the bearings through capillary attraction causing the oil or lubricant to fiow through the wicking from the reservoir into the cup 23 and thus to the chamber 11.

There is a pipe 25 which leads from the reservoir 21 to supply oil to the bearing for the needle lever. This pipe discharges its oil into a cup 26 which leads through the bearing to the parts that support the needle lever to be lubricated.

The main actuating shaft 8 is also journaled in a bearing 27. There is a bushing 28 in this bearing in which the shaftirotates. The bearing is provided with a chamber 29. A pipe 30 connected to the bearing 28 and extending through the bearing projects upwardly into the chamber 29 to a distance above the bottom thereof, and thus serves to trap and maintain a supply of oil in the chamber 29 which is fed by the fibrous material therein through the pipe 30 to the surfaces to be lubricated. The chamber 29 is supplied with oil from a pipe 31 leading from the main reservoir 21.

There is also a bearing 32 for the main actuating shaft 8, and in this bearing is a bushing 33, an oil chamber 34, a feed sleeve 35 and a supply pipe 36 leading from the main reservoir 21. There is another bearing 37 formed in the upper horizontal member for the right-hand end of the main actuating shaft. In this bearing is an oil chamber 38 which feeds oil through the sleeve 39 to the inner face of the bushing 40. The chamber 38 is supplied with oil from a pipe 41 leading from the main reservoir 21.

On the main shaft 8 is an eccentric 42 with which an eccentric strap 43 cooperates. This eccentric strap, through suitable connections, imparts the up and down movements to the feed dogs. The eccentric strap is provided with an oil receiving recess 44 at its upper end and oil is supplied thereto from a pipe 45 leading from the main reservoir 2l. There is also in the eccentric strap a chamber 46 forvsurplus oil so that the wearing parts between the eccentric strap and the eccentric are freely lubricated. Alongside of the eccentric 42 is another eccentric with which an eccentric strap 47 cooperates. This eccentric is supplied with oil in a similar manner from the pipe 48. The eccentric strap 47 imparts the back and forth movements to the feed dogs. On the end of the main actuating shaft is a crank 49 with which a lever 50 cooperates. This lever 50 is mounted for sliding and oscillating movements on a bearing pin carried by the supporting member 5l. The lower end of the lever 50 is connected to a rocking member that imparts both the loop-taking and the needle-avoiding motions to the looper. The ball stud on the crank 49 and the part cooperating therewith is supplied with oil from a pipe 52 which is connected to the main reservoir 21. The oil runs down the lever 50 on to the fulcrum pin therefor, and down through a port in the lever to the ball stud connection with the looper operating member, which is indicated at 53. The port is indicated at 54. All of the pipes are provided with wicking, and the pipes supply oil to the eccentrics, and the cranks are so disposed that as these parts rotate, oil will be taken thereby from the end of a wicking projecting from the pipes associated therewith. The wicking extending from the other pipes which supply the chambers in the bearings extend not only into the reservoir, but into contact with a fibrous packing in the oil chambers. From the above it will be apparent that all of the bearings for the main actuating shaft and the parts directlycarried thereby and operated thereby, are supplied with oil from this main reservoir which extends from substantially one end of the upper horizontal member to the other end thereof. The bearings 27, 32 and 37 are all cut through so as to provide a space for this main reservoir 21. The bearings 27 and 32 are likewise cut through as indicated at 55 and 56, respectively, to provide a free fiowing passageway for the oil accumulating on the inner face of the bottom wall of the upper horizontal member. This bottom wall 57 inclines from the left-hand end of the machine toward the right-hand end thereof, and causes the oil to iiow toward the depending member and through the depending member into the work arm. At the inner lower end of the work arm there is a depressed portion 58 which forms an oil sump 59 in which the oil gathers, which flows from the bearings for the main actuating shaft. In order that the oil gathering in the sump 59 may be returned to the oil reservoir 2l, a pump is provided which consists of a barrelfportion 60 in which is a piston 6l carried by a piston rod 62 to the upper end of which is attached a handpieoe 63. This provides a manual means for reciprocating the piston 6l. Attached to the upper end of the barrel portion 60 is a bracket piece 64 which is fixed to the frame of the machine and supports the pump. A coupling 65 is thread- 150 f v ment of the valve.

Y to the looper.

ed into the lower end of the barrel portion, and

i attached to this coupling is a member 66 having a valve seat 67 with which a ball valve 68 cooperates. This valve seat is so disposed that the oil is held from downward movement from the barrel portion when it is drawn up into the barrel portion by the piston. The lower end of the coupling 65 limits the upward movement of the `call valve. Threaded into the lower end of the member 66 is an extension tube 69 provided with a strainer 70 at the lower end thereof. This extension reaches down to near the bottom of the oil sump 59. Attached to the member 66 is a bracket portion 71 carrying a tubular part 72 which is threaded into the same, and this tubular part '72 is joined to a coupling 73 which is attached to the oil reservoir 21. In the coupling 73 is a valve seat 74 with which a ball valve 75 cooperates. There is a pin 76 in the coupling member which limits the upward move- By the aid of this handoperated pump, the oil is lifted from the sump and forced by the down stroke of the piston up into the reservoir 21. Thus it is by a few strokes of the pump, that the reservoir may be supplied with the -proper quantity of oil for freely lubrieating the bearings for the main actuating shaft and the parts directly associated therewith. It is understood, of course, that other means may be'used than the specific form of pump described for returning the oil to the oil reservoir.

Located between the work arm and the lower end of the depending portion 3 is a metallic A gasket 77. This metallic gasket is firmly clamped between the arm and the depending portion, and it projects inwardly so as to overhang the inner wall of the work arm. The gasket within the walls of the depending member is shaped so as to form a channel 78. Any oil thrown against the walls of the depending member 3 and running down the inner face of the walls will collect in this channel 78. The channel has a number of spouts leading therefrom for directing the oil to the parts in .the work arm which are to be lubricated. The spout 79 directs oil to the sleeve carrying the arm which raises and lowers the feed bars. The spout 80 directs oil to the sleeve which imparts back and 'forth movements to the feed bars. One of the feed bars is indicated at 81 and the other at 82. These two sleeves indicated respectively at 83 and 84 are each provided with a recess and a port leading therethrough so that the inner faces of the sleeves are thoroughly lubricated.

The spout 85 directs oil to the oscillating endwise moving sleeve 86 which imparts movements The spout SHupplies oil to the bearing connection for the links which raise and lower the feed bars. The spout 88 supplies oil to a pan 89 attached by suitable screws 90, 90 to the inner wall of the work arm. This pan is provided with a spout 91 which directs oil to the rock frame and the connection between said' rock frame and the main feed bar for lubricating the same. The spout 92 directs oil to the parts between the rock frame and the auxiliary feed bar for lubricating said parts. The spout 93 directs oil to a pan 94 which is connected to a tube 95 in the end of which is a wick 96 which trails on the feed bars 81 and 82 and supplies oil through the port 97 to the fulcrum support for the feed bars.

From the above it will be apparent that the oil which collects in the channel 78 is directed by these spouts to all of the various operating parts in the work arm, and any oil flowing from the bearings thus lubricated, will be drawn back into the oil collecting sump 59 and returned by the pump to the oil reservoir 21.

In lubricating the operating parts of a sewing machine there -are two important considerations. First the parts must be supplied with an adequate amount of oil, but only sufficient to elciently lubricate the moving parts, and second, the machine must be so constructed as not to allow oil to in any way accumulate on the parts with which the fabric contacts or drop oil upon the fabric passing through the machine. Applicant has provided a machine wherein the sewing machine frame is in the form of an enclosed casing which consists of an upper horizontal member, a depending member and a work armall interconnected with the inner parts thereof, shaped so that any oil accumulating in the region of the needle head on the inner face of the upper horizontal member will drain back in the sump at the inner end of the work arm. Likewise, any oil accumulating on the inner face of the work arm drains back to this sump at the inner end thereof. The oil reservoir supplying the oil is all enclosed within this casing, and therefore the parts may be efficiently lubricated without the oil escaping from the casing and accumulating at points where the fabric contacts with the casing. Furthcrmore, where the entire oiling system is located within the sewing machine casing or housing all exterior oil holes are done away with. Then again by the use of a hand pump for pumping the oil from the sump back into the reservoir together with the wickings which supply the bearings by capillary attraction, a very small amount of oil may be caused to circulate, supplying all of the parts with efiicient lubrication. The pump, when operated, transfers the oil to the reservoir but the oil is very gradually fed to the bearings supplying just their need.

It is obvious that minor changes in the details of construction and the arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims..

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters- Patent, is-

1. In a sewing machine, the combination of a frame including an upper horizontal member, a depending member and a work arm suspended thereby, a main actuating shaft in said upper horizontal member, said frame having bearings for said shaft at and intermediate the ends thereof, each bearing having a bushing and a chamber for supplying oil to the inner face of the bushing, an oil reservoir extending lengthwise of the shaft substantially from one end to the other, a pipe leading from the reservoir at a point above the bottom thereof to each chamber, the inner face of said horizontal member being shaped so as to drain oil into the work arm, said work arm having a depending portion forming an oil sump where the oil accumulates, and a hand-operated pump connected to said reservoir and exterding into said sump whereby the oil at will may be returned from the sump to the reservoir.

2. In a sewing machine, the combination of a frame including an upper horizontal member, a depending member and a work arm suspended thereby, a main actuating shaft in said upper horizontal member, said frame having bearings for said shaft at and intermediate the ends thereof, each bearing having a bushing and a chamber for supplying oil to the inner face of lll@ the bushing, an oil reservoir extending lengthwise of the shaft substantially from one end to the other, a pipe leading from the reservoir to each chamber, the inner face of said upper horizontal member being shaped so as to drain oil into the work arm, said work arm having a depending portion forming an oil sump Where the oil accumulates, a hand pump supported by said frame and extending through said depending member to the sump in the work arm, a piston in said pump, a piston rod carrying the piston and extending outside of the frame, and a hand-piece attached to the piston rod for operating the same, said pump being connected to said reservoir and provided with suitable valves whereby the oil may be pumped by hand from the sump into the reservoir.

3. In a sewing machine the combination of a frame including an upper horizontal member, a work supporting member located beneath the same, a main actuating shaft in said frame, bearings for said shaft at and intermediate the ends thereof, each bearing having a bushing and a chamber for supplying oil to the inner face of the bushing, an oil reservoir extending 1engthwise of this shaft substantially from one end to the other, a pipe leading from the reservoir at a point above the bottom thereof to each chamber, each chamber having a sleeve extending through the bushing and projecting above the bottom of the chamber and a iibrous material in said chamber, whereby the oil supplied from the pipe to said chamber is retained in the chamber and slowly fed through the sleeve to the face of the bushing, said frame having an oil sump beneath said actuating shaft where the oil escaping from the bearings accumulates and a hand operated pump connected to the reservoir and extending into said sump whereby the oil at will may be returned from the sump to the reservoir.

4. In a sewing machine the combination of a frame including an upper horizontal member, a work supporting member located beneath the same, a main actuating shaft in said frame, bear' ings for said shaft at and intermediate the ends thereof, each bearing having a bushing and a chamber for supplying oil to the inner face of the bushing, an oil reservoir extending lengthwise of this shaft substantially from one end to the other, a pipe leading from the reservoir at a point above the bottom thereof to each chamber, each chamber having a sleeve extending through the bushing and projecting above the bottom of the chamber and a fibrous material in said chamber, whereby the oil supplied from the pipe to said chamber is retained in the chamber and slowly fed through the sleeve to the face of the bushing, each pipe being connected to the reservoir at a point above the bottom thereof and having a wick extending therethrough into the reservoir and out of the free end of the pipe so as to contact with the brous packing in the chamber, said frame having an oil sump beneath said actuating shaft where the oil escaping from the bearings accumulates and a hand operated pump connected to the reservoir and extending into said sump whereby the oil at will may be returned from the sump to the reservoir. y

HANS HACKLANDER. 

